The Garrett County Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) met last week with all stakeholders to review winter operations, discuss ongoing transportation projects, and coordinate preparations for the upcoming winter season.
As part of the discussion, the Garrett County Department of Public Works – Roads Division reported that snow removal equipment has been inspected, anti-skid materials and salt have been stocked, and several additional contract staff members have been hired and trained to ensure efficient winter response. The Roads Division currently operates out of three garages located in Oakland, Accident, and Grantsville, collectively maintaining 682 miles of county roads.
“Several of our new hires are gaining valuable experience through in-house training,” said Paul Harvey, Roads Division Chief. “Our team has been focused this fall on ensuring every employee is properly prepared for Garrett County weather.”
The division operates 40 day-shift routes and 22 night-shift routes during snow events, covering roughly 1,400 plowing miles in total. The current fleet includes 53 single-axle trucks with plows and spreaders, nine road graders, and several loaders, blowers, and backhoes. The division’s annual winter operations budget averages $1.3 million, covering materials, maintenance, and staff hours.
County crews use a mix of 30% salt and 70% anti-skid material on the high-traffic roads such as Sand Flat Road, Glendale Road, and New Germany Road, as well as around schools and the Deep Creek Lake area.
In addition to winter readiness, the Committee also addressed paving and road line striping projects currently in-progress as part of overall roadway maintenance planning. While County Roads Division crews handled the paving work, they do not perform line striping due to the specialized equipment and safety requirements involved. Earlier this summer, the County contracted with Alpha Space Services to complete striping services throughout the area.
Currently, Alpha Space is focused on Maryland State highway projects and local routes will be striped when state projects are completed.
“We recognize the importance of clear pavement markings for driver safety,” said Harvey, Chair of the Transportation Advisory Committee. “We are actively exploring additional vendor options to ensure local roads are properly marked as soon as possible.”
The Transportation Advisory Committee will continue to coordinate with the Department of Public Works and other partners such as the Garrett County Sheriff's Office, Maryland State Highways, Garrett County Emergency Management and the Maryland State Police to ensure that all of Garrett County’s roads remain safe, well-maintained, and ready for the upcoming season.
